Motivation

Formal vs Informal

Posted on 04-04-202415-03-2024by admin

Why Schools Need to Drop the Formal Facade

The over-formalisation of schools has led to a disconnection between students and teachers, stifling genuine relationships and hindering active engagement, giving birth to an apathy epidemic. As students are confronted with the facade of conformity—teachers adorned in business attire, reciting scripted lines, each lesson following the same predictable script as the last—the essence of education becomes obscured by a fog of formality Yet, amidst this barrage of corporate bullshit and rigid systems, lies a yearning for authenticity. There is an imperative to reduce the formality reminiscent of 1920s business conventions and instead promote a more informal approach. This shift fosters genuine connections and restores the social contract between students and teachers.

Communication Expectations Leadership Motivation

Beyond “Branded” Praise

Posted on 01-04-202411-03-2024by admin

Rediscovering the Power of Genuine Acknowledgement

Shrouded in unnecessary complexity yet so evident in its simplicity: praise. Is it an essential element of student motivation and morale? Perhaps, but frequently overshadowed by convoluted systems prioritising branding over genuine acknowledgement. As a result, layers of complexity obscure what should be a straightforward gesture of appreciation. [Note to SLT: if you need more than a couple of lines on a slide, or god forbid, a fucking flow chart to explain your latest shit idea, it’s probably too complicated!]

Behaviour Communication Curiculum Engagement Leadership Motivation

Pen to Politeness

Posted on 15-02-202418-02-2024by admin

Basics in Decline

Step into a modern-day classroom and you might be forgiven for thinking you’ve wandered onto the set of a Kafkaesque sitcom: students, chauffeured to school like VIPs, lounging in their seats with an air of entitlement. But the laughter fades when you realise the punchline—their desks are barren, devoid of the most basic tools for learning. Pens? Pencils? F**k that! Welcome to the paradox of education in the 21st century, where chauffeur-driven arrivals collide with a distinct absence of independence and initiative. It’s a scene that’s both farcical and foreboding, underscoring a troubling trend in our schools.

Communication Engagement Innovation Leadership Motivation

Death by quote

Posted on 01-02-202403-02-2024by admin

Picture the scene: a dimly lit meeting room, the low hum of a projector, no air con, shit coffee from a polystyrene cup and the unmistakable stench of boredom lingering in the air. As the PowerPoint/Google slides blink into life, so do the cliché quotes that adorn each one, like shit on the underside of a public toilet seat. The scene is all too familiar in the world of education, where leadership seem to have a fondness for drowning their presentations in a sea of quotes. But are these verbal gems contributing to intellectual enlightenment, or are they merely veils of pseudo-intelligence? Spoiler alert…it’s the latter!